C20 Return to Our Era

A long-haired man in a suit stood furiously in front of Ethan, holding a large microphone.

“Ahem! Where did you people come from? What dynasty are you dressed for? Who’s your director?” The long-haired man spoke in an official tone.

“We’re not from any dynasty, and we’re not filming! We have injured people here! Please call a car—someone is badly hurt, we can’t delay!” Ethan said excitedly. “Where are we? What city is this? We really came back! Who are you?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? You’re really into your act! Who’s your director? I’m Wang Jing! You should know me! Did you sneak onto our set to steal our shoot? Our production is top secret!” The fat man claimed to be Wang Jing, looking angry.

“You? Hong Kong’s famous director Wang Jing? Don’t make me laugh! I don’t have time for this! The real Hong Kong Wang Jing is fat too, but he has more class… and he doesn’t have long hair!” Ethan was anxious, but he couldn’t help being amused by this silly copycat.

“What? I can’t grow my hair long? I’m rebranding myself! Your blood and wounds look so real… you even have a knife stuck in his shoulder. We’re filming our scene—why are you disrupting us?”

“Ah!”

Before Ethan could stop him, the self-proclaimed “Wang Jing” pulled the knife out of Howard’s shoulder. He froze instantly—the knife and blood were real.

“Real… real blood?! You people are crazy! You’d risk your lives for a scene? Why don’t I have actors this dedicated?!”

“Quick! Get them to the hospital! We have a van! This is too much! Your director is heartless! And take me too—I’m allergic to blood!” With that, Wang Jing fainted.

Ethan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When he first arrived in the Moon Rabbit Kingdom, he thought everyone was acting. Now back in his own world, people thought they were acting. His once-admired director turned out to be this ridiculous.

But at least he was home, with his brothers. He had left that dreamlike world behind.

Ethan and the crew quickly carried the injured into a large van. He realized they were in the suburbs of X City. In just two years, a huge film studio had been built here. The city was almost unrecognizable.

As they rode, Ethan’s mind raced. He thought of his brothers who had fought alongside him, of Li Yizhu, of Dana, his company, his old business friends.

In the final moments of the Rabbit Kingdom, Zhang Yu had moved him deeply. He still wasn’t sure what had happened between them, but she had given her life for him. That world held his glory, his memories, his madness—and for the first time, he had felt truly alive as a man.

Why can I never save the women who care for me?

Ethan felt useless and regretful.

My life is mine, not heaven’s. That had once been his rule. Now he doubted his own power, and wondered if fate really controlled everything, if gods ruled the world.

For the first time, he strongly wanted to settle down, to have a family. After seeing so many unreasonable women in the female-ruled world, he suddenly found women in his own world lovely.

He decided he would tell the one he loved how he felt. He had no idea how long he could live. Since his suicide, life had been full of accidents and helplessness. He would grasp what he could, so he would never regret it.

Li Yizhu lay in the hospital bed, his face deathly pale, yet with a strange faint flush. He looked far better than someone who had been unconscious for three days.

Ethan felt a strange, cold certainty: this was his last moment. A final glow before fading.

“You’ll be fine. Don’t think too much. You’ll recover soon. I’m still waiting for you to come kill me,” Ethan said, trying to comfort him. For this once-enemy, he felt no hatred at all.

“Ethan, don’t lie to me. I know my time is up… and you can feel it too. Funny… you’re my enemy, but you’re the one here, worrying about me.” Li Yizhu smiled weakly, bitter and helpless.

He was tired of living. Life had only been nightmares. He had no family left.

Yet as he faced death, he only wanted to talk to Ethan—the boy who had ruined his life, yet somehow become the closest thing to a companion.

“If you die, who will I fight? I wanted to kill you with my own hands… but now that you’re dying, I feel like I’ve lost my purpose. My will to fight is gone,” Ethan sighed, speaking honestly.

“Yeah… that’s how I feel too. I have no family, no friends… only you, my enemy. It’s strange. If you died, what would I live for? I don’t want to rebuild the Tiger Clan. The world is integrated now. Everyone can find their place. I’m just tired. The clan duties, the hatred… it all crushed me. I lost myself. Now I can finally let go. I’m free.”

Li Yizhu breathed out deeply, as if a huge weight had lifted.

“I really feel free… dying isn’t so scary. Everything from the past is gone. What do people live for? I used to ask myself that every day. Now I understand… but it no longer matters. Everything in the world is real and false. What if you gain it? What if you lose it? I did good and bad in the Tiger Clan… but it’s all over. I’m starting over.

I hope there’s an afterlife. I want to see my family and friends again. I never want to be human again. Being human is too tiring.”

Li Yizhu’s voice grew softer and softer. He spoke only for himself, not caring if Ethan listened.

Ethan listened silently.

What do I live for?

He had asked himself many times, but never found the answer.

He felt Li Yizhu slipping away. All hatred was gone. It felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.

Li Yizhu fell silent. His eyes closed, a peaceful, relieved smile on his face.

Ethan wondered what he had understood at the end. Why hadn’t Ethan found enlightenment after his own suicide?

Ethan left the ward.

Outside, Wang Jing was still arguing loudly with nurses. They were perfectly matched. Hospital administrators tried to calm them down, and the nurse dared not fight in front of her superiors.

Ethan didn’t stay to watch. He walked straight to Howard and Han Tao’s room.

They were already awake, bickering like children. Seeing them lifted Ethan’s empty heart.

“Cut it out. You two look fine. Come with me to my villa. Let’s experience this world again. What were you arguing about?”

“Boss! He said women in this world are uglier than the female kingdom! I said women HERE are real women—sexy, gentle! Tell him, Boss! Oh—you have a VILLA? Awesome! I’ve never lived in one! I’m moving in! You’re rich, you can support me!” Howard’s eyes lit up.

“Please. You’re not a girl—why would he support you? C’mon, Boss. Give us a few million. We’ll buy our own villas. We’ll be independent!” Han Tao said.

“Your version of ‘independent’ is begging for money?” Ethan laughed.

“Let’s go. There’s a pain-in-the-neck following me. We need to leave quietly.”

“Pain-in-the-neck? A girl? I need to find a good woman in this world! If they turn like the female kingdom, I’m doomed!” Howard said, leering but nervous.

“Not a girl. A fat guy. If you like him, I’ll introduce you. He’s very interested in guys like you,” Ethan joked.

“No thanks! Let’s go to the villa!”

“Haha. Boss, are you sure you can pay the bill? Your pocket’s probably as empty as your face!” Han Tao laughed.

“This is my world. I’m still somebody here. One phone call, and I have millions. Besides… that fat director outside is still arguing with the nurses. He’ll pay everything.”

“Haha! Deal!”

“By the way… where’s Li Yizhu? Did he leave already?” Howard asked.

Ethan’s face fell.

“He’s dead.”

“Dead…” Howard and Han Tao fell silent.

“But… he said he was free. He died peacefully.”

The three said nothing.

Ethan knew this hospital well. He led Howard and Han Tao out quietly. Wang Jing was still arguing. Ethan flagged down a taxi and headed to his villa.

The city had changed drastically. Tall new residential complexes and commercial streets lined the roads. It was 10 PM; neon lights flashed, a scene of luxury.

The taxi suddenly stopped.

“Gentlemen, police checkpoint. Please wait a moment.”

“Bad luck,” Ethan muttered.

“Something big must’ve happened. The city’s been crazy lately—major cases every few days!” the driver said.

“The city looks so developed. I thought the law would be better,” Howard said.

“Looks can be deceiving. Prosperity hides darkness. Even America is developed, but crime is through the roof! Unrest is just part of rising economies. Like how you’re jealous of my good looks. Being handsome is good—but if you lose your mind and try to hurt me? Not good! Everything good has a bad side!” Han Tao rambled.

Ethan said nothing. He stared at the police checking cars, and his heart missed Dana.

“You’re right! Take Hong Kong—super prosperous, but triads are bold! Not long ago, gang war killed over a hundred people!” the driver agreed.

“The government’s just weak. Cops are useless. We could kill someone right in front of them, and they’d never catch us!” Howard said, having hated police since childhood.

“Who said that? Police inspection!”

A fat, round-faced officer stuck his head through the open window. He’d clearly heard Howard.

“We’re just civilians, in a hurry to get home. Just talking,” Ethan said calmly. He found it strange how many police looked like pigs these days.

“Civilians? With those outfits? Show me your IDs! We don’t hurt good people, but you look suspicious!”

IDs.

Ethan hadn’t used his ID in years. Howard and Han Tao definitely didn’t have any.

Their strange clothes looked like rebellious gang uniforms. Combined with Howard’s big mouth, Ethan knew trouble was coming.